Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The plans were chaotic during their first years. For example, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was in seven different locations in Portlaoise, although it is now in fewer places. There is no doubt that there was chaos for some years and that it was not planned properly. I do not want, however, the Government to use that as an excuse not to decentralise other parts of the public service. In Offaly, there is part of the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Finance. Laois has the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. IDA Ireland jobs have been slow to come to Laois and Offaly. Only four jobs were created by IDA Ireland in Laois last year, but there is an opportunity in this area. We are told that IDA Ireland cannot get companies to move beyond the M50 and that it is difficult to get them into the midlands. Dublin cannot cope with the rapid growth it is undergoing. This is an opportunity to examine this issue and look to sections of other Departments that could be decentralised.

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